DONOR STORIES

The Impact of Your Donations

Academics that inspire. Award-winning student outreach organizations. Athletics victories. Alumni who are succeeding and leading the world over. These are just a few examples of what your gifts to St. Bonaventure have accomplished.

When we work together, we inspire others and change lives.

As the last few students wander into one of Professor Bob Donius’s afternoon classes, there’s a lot of moving book bags and chairs to squeeze the students into the crowded classroom.

This isn’t unusual, as attendance is crucial in all of Donius’s classes, but today the classroom seems even more alive because the students are buzzing with excitement: Donius has promised them he would bring his guitar and play and sing for them.

“Being a member of SIMM prepares you for the real world and helps you perform better in other classes,” he said.

McLaughlin, who serves as a co-general manager of the program, noted that he has gained confidence in public speaking and has sharpened his critical thinking and research skills because of his SIMM involvement.

That’s because as tax season heats up, the accounting major spends extra time working with the local Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, a university-run group commonly known as VITA.

“It’s for lower-income families,” she said, explaining as of now, she spends about two days a week helping out. “We do their taxes for free and try to save them as much money as possible. This service program allows us to get real experience while helping the community.”

It's approaching 3 a.m. Thursday morning, and sophomore Dominic LoVallo picks up a red pen and begins editing a printed page in the newsroom of the student-run paper at St. Bonaventure.

Staying up nearly all Wednesday night is common for LoVallo, a sophomore journalism and mass communication major, who just began his second semester as the managing editor of The Bona Venture. He’s awake early Thursday though, back in the newsroom helping editors with final touches before sending the pages to be published first thing Friday morning.

As a high school senior, Vanessa Hulse didn’t generally pay much attention to the large number of college advertisements she got in the mail nearly every day.

But, she said, she’s sure glad she took a closer look at one for a small, rural Franciscan University tucked away in the Allegheny Mountains.

Because that led the Morris, New York, native to St. Bonaventure.

"It came down to two schools," Hulse, now a senior, said. "They were both good schools. I made a pros and cons list and St. Bonaventure came out on top. While visiting the other school, I felt like a young freshman, you know, bottom of the rung. At St. Bonaventure it was like, ‘Welcome home.’"

The thousands of miles childhood studies major Kerry Caher has run as a member of the university's Division I cross country team have helped her realize her dreams of helping other athletes as a registered dietitian.

“I took some time to try and find my path, and after considering many options, I took a step back and reviewed what I’ve been in my time at college aside from an education major,” Caher, now a senior, explained. “I realized that I’ve been an athlete who had to learn the hard way that being dedicated to your sport also means being dedicated to your health.”

As Ben Collins explains, the education and experience he has in the business world began right here at St. Bonaventure University. Now, having worked for multiple organizations and corporate companies, Collins is confident Bona's will help as he enters the business world after graduation.

“I haven’t fully determined what exactly it is that I want to do post-graduation,” he Collins said. “What I can say is the organizations and clubs at St. Bonaventure have helped to point me in the correct direction. Although I don’t have my career path fully figured out, I am confident that the university will help me chose the correct direction.”

For Allison Field, the best part about St. Bonaventure is the multiple clubs and organizations she has the opportunity to belong to. Field, a chemistry major, will graduate next May and enter a pharmacy program.

“St. Bonaventure is the perfect size school for becoming involved in all sorts of different clubs and activities,” said Field, who divides her time among clubs such as the American Medical Student Association, College Republicans, Student-Athlete Advisory Council and Bona Athletes for Christ. “To me, it’s one of the best parts about the university.”

According to Lian Bunny, the Russell J. Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication at St. Bonaventure is the perfect place for her to continue her love of learning and increase her knowledge of journalism while working for companies such as the Buffalo Bills and WBFO radio station.

"Journalism allows me to continue to learn—whether it’s about politics, news, events or simply people in general,” Bunny said. “I love meeting new people and hearing their stories. I firmly believe everyone has a unique point of view and a story to be told.”

Graduate student Zachary Rodriguez spent part of his semester break conducting research in a village in Uganda, thanks to a grant from the university’s Buzzy Fund.
The fund subsidizes some or all of the expenses for professional and career-building growth opportunities—such as academic conferences and graduate entrance exams— for students who lack financial resources.
While on the trip, Rodriguez, who is interested in pursuing a doctorate in economics, conducted research to evaluate the effectiveness of microfinance in the area and the continuing activities of Embrace It Africa.

Area community members have committed gifts totaling nearly $70,000 to the university’s Center for Arab and Islamic Studies Program to promote an understanding of Arab and Islamic cultures, an appreciation of both their historical and contemporary significance in the global community and respectful relations between Muslim and Christian people.
Support for the center includes contributions from Dr. Adil and Mrs. Jehan Al-Humadi, Dr. Mohaned Al-Humadi, John and Wardia Hart, Akbar and Nisreen Firdosy, Drs. Zahid and Durriya Khairullah, Donald and Mary Swanz and the Islamic Society of the Southern Tier.

Russell J. Jandoli School alumna Joan Licursi ’65 spent her days at St. Bonaventure working for the campus radio station, the newspaper, the magazine, the radio and the yearbook.

Now, having worked for global public relations firms such as Burson-Marstellar and non-profit organizations such as Boys and Girls Club of America, among other things, Licursi continues to be a leader in the public relations world.

According to Licursi, the skills she needs to excel at her jobs she learned right here—studying journalism at St. Bonaventure.

As a young boy, Pittsburgh attorney John R. “Jack” McGinley Jr. would stay at St. Bonaventure University to visit one of his uncles and watch the Pittsburgh Steelers practice during training camp.

That uncle — Fr. Silas (Dan) Rooney, O.F.M. — proved to be a “strong presence” in McGinley’s life and also within the large, tight-knit McGinley/Rooney family where athletics were encouraged and education valued.

Now, as Jack McGinley celebrates 50 years as a Bona alumnus, he and his family and the Rita M. McGinley Foundation of which he is chair have committed $2 million to enhance University Ministries at St. Bonaventure.

A.J. Vitanza, ’15, sums up his academic career at Bona’s in three words: “Adventurous. Encompassing. Humbling.”
This finance/management double major, who is also a prop on the rugby team, member of SIMM and ENACTUS, and participant in our Oxford Program, says what he has learned best at Bona’s is selflessness.
“I want to say thanks for the many opportunities,” he says. “You’ve inspired a lot of us to participate, graduate, and give back.”

"Bonaventure’s professors, with their different backgrounds and cultures, really helped me to understand how to work with others who have a different mindset. Also, the professors didn’t stop being professors once I graduated. They remained in contact with me and have offered guidance on the next steps to take."

“We’re where we are because of Bonaventure. We honestly believe that if we went to a different school, we wouldn’t have the same abilities, the same network, or the same potential that we have coming from Bonaventure.”

- Tom Cullen, '00

Co-founder of LaunchPad Lab

“St. Bonaventure helped shape my career by introducing me to a great opportunity right from the start. I got my first job at KPMG, one of the most competitive professional service companies in the world, after attending an on-campus event. Public accounting was demanding work but the business school had prepared me for it.”

- Michelle Cullen, '00

CFO, tastytrade, Inc.

Bioscientist Dr. Xiao-Ning Zhang, assistant professor of biology at St. Bonaventure, is part of a collaborative bioinformatics team recently awarded a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation.

Dr. Zhang and her colleagues at the University of Maryland and the University of Iowa are developing a tool that will enhance the workflow and aid in discovery for biologists. This tool will make the most of annotation data captured in various repositories, specifically gene ontology and plant ontology annotations of Arabidopsis plant genes.

At its core, the project will help expose St. Bonaventure students to diverse research opportunities and will offer significant educational experiences. “The whole idea is to help students broaden their view,” said Dr. Zhang. “It will help students understand the importance of math and computer science, and will train them in multiple disciplines.”

Advancement News

Puskars establish accounting scholarship at St. Bonaventure University

Mar 24, 2014 |

Mary (Daiber, ’84) and Frank Puskar know the meaning of working hard and giving back. Together they founded the successful Energo Engineering, Inc., based in Houston, Texas. Today, wanting to empower others, they have created a lasting opportunity for students at Mary’s alma mater—St. Bonaventure University.

The husband-and-wife duo has committed $150,000 to establish the Mary Daiber Puskar ’84 Endowed Scholarship. Their goal is to provide accounting majors in the School of Business the chance to become extraordinary. The inaugural scholarship will be awarded this fall. Mary, the namesake of the fund, believes providing access to higher education to those who aspire to it and possess the drive is critical.

“My goal with this scholarship is that it will assist others in obtaining their dreams and in giving them a chance to be the best they can be,” Mary said.

Frank served as chief engineer of the couple’s company while Mary served as chief accountant. Mary found that the skills she learned while attending St. Bonaventure helped her to successfully carry out her duties within the company.

“The accounting aspect is very important in business and the skills I learned while earning my accounting degree (B.B.A., accounting) were critical to the operation,” Mary said.

University President Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F, S.T.D., noted the impact of this extraordinary gift. “The Puskars’ strong commitment to our students reflects a firm belief in St. Bonaventure’s innovative approach to business education. Their scholarship will provide critical support to deserving students for years to come.” said President Carney.

During her years at St. Bonaventure and in later business success, Mary learned the importance of higher education.

“The Franciscan presence, great education and small-town atmosphere of St. Bonaventure helped form my approach toward successfully dealing with the day-to-day activities in business and in life in general,” Mary said. “We wanted to allow others to have a similar opportunity.”

Mary felt it was important to give back to those who helped her along the path of life. She cited St. Bonaventure as a critical part of her journey, helping to shape her into the woman she is today.

“I want to acknowledge in particular Bona’s contribution to the accounting skills I learned as a student,” Mary said. “My husband and I would also like to set an example for other successful alumni in the hope that they will also consider donating to St. Bonaventure.”

About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure University cultivates graduates who are confident and creative communicators, collaborative leaders and team members, and innovative problem solvers who are respectful of themselves, others, and the diverse world around them. We are establishing pathways to internships, graduate schools and careers in the context of our renowned liberal arts tradition. Our students are becoming extraordinary.